Takapuna Grammar School

From the TGS Sports desk (09.06.26)...

Takapuna Grammar School Sports eNewsletter - 9 June 2026 Thanks for reading our sports round up. If you are itching with football fever in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup, get along and watch some live football action - both the Girls and Boys 1st XI have home games this week!

We celebrated another successful Languages Week at TGS, with the annual Spanish Quiz Evening a major highlight. More than 100 students from 11 schools enjoyed a lively night of Spanish language, culture, and authentic Hispanic cuisine thanks to our generous sponsors.

Teams tackled questions on geography, pop culture, and festivals - with a bonus round dedicated to popular Puerto Rican rapper and actor Bad Bunny. The entire event was run in Spanish!

We were also delighted to host Paola Iasci, Spanish Language Adviser for Language Circle and the Spanish Embassy, who visited classes and shared her passion for Spanish and Hispanic culture.

This term we welcomed Laura Fernández García, our new Spanish Language Assistant from La Rioja, who supports students each week through conversational Spanish sessions.

A huge thank you to all the teams, teachers, sponsors, and volunteers who made the evening such a fun celebration of Spanish at TGS.

It was all about blue and gold today as students at TGS celebrated Taka Day.

From face paint, ribbons and blue and gold tutus the school celebrated the TGS spirit.

Our Head Prefects put themselves on the line in a water‑soaked sponge‑throwing showdown.

Students lined up for their chance to hit the targets, and the prefects took every bullseye in good humour.

&gold

TGS creativity was on show yesterday with the annual House Mural Challenge
During interval and extended form time, classes worked together create their House designs into stunning chalk murals.
Each House was given a theme connected to school life with Wehi taking the top prize. Results: 1st - Wehi (Learning) 2nd - Maia (Culture) 3rd - Ihi (Arts) 4th - Mana (Traditions) and 5th - Kaha (Sports). Well done to everyone involved for your hard work, creativity, and school spirit! 💙🙌💙

This week we farewelled a long-serving and valued staff member, Deselina Iswara, after 21 years of dedicated service.

Known to staff and students as Dese, she worked in the school cafeteria, maintaining high standards while continually introducing ideas to improve the food on offer and keep it affordable for students.

Dese now looks forward to spending more time with her family and young grandchildren.

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication Dese!

Pictured here with Principal Mary Nixon and Tuckshop Manager Rodney Greaves.

🥰🩵

TGS Newsletter 03.06.26

Takapuna Grammar School Newsletter 3 June 2026 Dear Parents and Whānau,

From the TGS Sports desk (02.06.26)...

Takapuna Grammar School Sports eNewsletter - 2 June 2026

This morning we gathered to bless the newly designed pou that line and light our driveway, guiding our students into the heart of our kura. Designed by award-winning Māori designer Ben Thomason and crafted from corten steel, these pou will weather over time.

Matua Scott welcomed students, whānau and staff, leading us up the drive as each pou was blessed with a karakia. Matua Willie gave a mihi and the ceremony was completed with a karakia and a shared kai.

Each pou represents one of our school houses:

🔹 Ihi - Inner power and drive. The Ihi pou is composed of two popular Māori designs, puhoro for growth and change and manawa, the inner flow of energy. These two patterns stem from the middle outward to link a student's journey from the school to the world.

🔹 Kaha - Strength and resilience.
The Kaha pou design incorporates mangōpare patterns, symbols of strength and courage inspired by the hammerhead shark. The shark is known for its power, determination and ability to overcome challenges; embodiments of the qualities of Kaha.

🔹 Māia - Courage and confidence.
Māia is a driving force to overcome the challenges one faces in life. The Māia pou design has a modern version of mangōpare. Māia can come from more than physical strength so the pou uses longer versions of the hammerhead shape. The flow comes from the middle and outwards to show the shift of a student’s Māia as they go through life.

🔹 Mana - Pride, influence and connection.
Mana is the power within all things; it is the life essence and unexplainable connection between all things. It can be earned and it can be lost. The Mana design is composed of three main manawa lines down the middle. This is to demonstrate the idea that Mana is a gift from higher power.

🔹 Wehi - Awe and reflection.
Wehi is caused as a reaction to one's Ihi. Equal and opposite to Ihi, Wehi is the inner response to situations and outcomes. The response that helps us learn, grow and find balance. The Wehi pou design is composed of downward puhoro patterns to show the equal and opposite force Wehi takes against Ihi.

Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini

Be Strong, be Brave, be Steadfast

My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.

TGS Newsletter 27.05.26

Takapuna Grammar School Newsletter 27 May 2026 Dear Parents and Whānau,

From the TGS Sports desk (26.05.26)...

Takapuna Grammar School Sports eNewsletter - 26 May 2026 There are a few less sporting fixtures, as a few codes have byes with the long weekend coming up, but there are still some great HOME and local games to come and cheer at this week: